Molly Gray is not like anyone else. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, she has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J. D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead—very dead—on the hotel’s tearoom floor.
When Detective Stark, Molly’s old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to know: Who killed J. D. Grimthorpe? Was it Lily, the new Maid-in-Training? Or was it Serena, the author’s secretary? Could Mr. Preston, the hotel’s beloved doorman, be hiding something? And is Molly really as innocent as she seems?
As the high-profile death threatens the hotel’s pristine reputation, Molly knows she alone holds the key to unlocking the killer’s identity. But that key is buried deep in her past, as long ago, she knew J. D. Grimthorpe. Molly begins to comb her memory for clues, revisiting her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where she and her dearly departed Gran once worked side by side. With the entire hotel under investigation, Molly must solve the mystery posthaste. Because if there’s one thing she knows for sure, it’s that secrets don’t stay buried forever.
My Review:
Like many readers, I was enchanted by Molly Gray in Nita Prose’s The Maid. She’s a different type of narrator and heroine. She’s no nonsense, she says it like it is, and it’s refreshing. So of course, I was excited to dive into The Mystery Guest.
A lot has changed since The Maid. Molly is now a woman in charge of her own destiny. She’s head maid, she has strong relationships and friendships, and sadly, her grandmother has passed away. But she’s been doing great on her own – that is, until another guest of the hotel drops dead.
The Mystery Guest isn’t just a sequel, it has its own personality and keeping intriguing tale. What I enjoyed most is that the book also functions as a bit of prequel, sharing details into Molly’s life as a child with her grandmother. Stories that relate directly to the newest murder that needs to be solved.
The Mystery Guest is a fantastic book that I highly recommend to anyone who loved The Maid. Special thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review. This one is out now!
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